Troops shoot, wound masked Israeli teen who was throwing rocks at cars in West Bank

A masked Israeli teenager who was hurling stones at motorists in the central West Bank was shot by a Border Police officer, a military official says.

The reservist policeman had spotted a group of masked suspects hurling rocks at cars that were stuck in a jam on Route 60, close to the settlement of Beit El and the illegal outpost of Oz Zion.

In response, the officer fired in the air. Moments later, the masked suspects began throwing stones at the police officer, who returned fire, hitting one of the suspects, the official says.

Medics report that the suspect, an Israeli 17-year-old boy, is in light-to-moderate condition after being shot.

Recent months have seen a significant rise in attacks by settler extremists against Palestinians in the West Bank, with troops often reluctant to intervene.

Israeli forces routinely shoot Palestinians throwing rocks at vehicles in the West Bank, saying they are endangering the lives of the motorists.